Newport Shipyard Commissions Largest Lift in New England

Newport Shipyard is pleased to announce the acquisition of the largest lift in New England, just in time for the 2013 season! The yard's new 500-Ton Marine TravelLift will expand haul-out capabilities and optimize boat storage on the hard, allowing all but the largest vessels to undergo dry-dock service and repairs right in the heart of Newport. The new lift recently arrived at our facility and is scheduled to be in service by June 21st. The lift has four fully-articulated wheel-bases for precision maneuvering in the busy yard, which should allow for more efficient storage and open up several hundred feet of additional dry-dock capacity. The machine is controlled from a remote console worn by the operator to permit full visibility and ensure clearance from any angle. Additional features include night-time work lights for emergency haul-outs and a sound suppression package to reduce engine noise.

Yard Manager and Dockmaster, Eli Dana, along with his "associate" Morgan Huntley of Vanquish Boats, recently journeyed to TravelLift headquarters in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin to meet with the manufacturers and see the lift in production. "TravelLift has an amazing facility on Lake Michigan," Eli reports. "Their production and quality standards are the best in the business and they are truly committed to customer service. This is our fourth TravelLift and we are excited about the opportunities it opens up for the yard. Also, it turns out folks in Wisconsin know how to have a good time! They were very gracious hosts."

Eli stresses that the new lift fills an important gap in the yard's customer base. "It’s a big investment for us. There are a lot of boats in the 150'-200' range that were just beyond our capabilities with the old 300 Ton lift. These vessels are a key part of our clientele, and a lot of their work was going to yards down south that had the ability to get them out of the water. Now we don't have to turn away business. We also hope to attract new vessels to Newport by upgrading our haul-out capacity. Newport is an ideal base for superyachts exploring the cruising grounds of coastal New England, and now these boats can complete their full service schedule at an attractive location that also happens to be a hub for marine industry trades and yachting culture.

To make room for the new lift, the Shipyard has sold its 300 Ton machine to a yard in Mexico. To ensure uninterrupted service, the old lift will be disassembled and trucked in pieces to its new home south of the border only after the new lift is commissioned in June. Newport Shipyard will keep its 70 & 100 Ton lifts, which, in addition to its 30 Ton mobile trailer, ensures haul-out and storage capabilities in virtually any situation. Says Head Rigger, Jimmy Correia, "we've hit the sweet spot now in terms of what we can do on the hard. I think we're really well-positioned to maximize the storage and service capabilities of our footprint. This new lift is an impressive piece of machinery, and I'm looking forward to getting behind the controls!"